IMPACT

The Impact of European Colonisation In

AFRICA

INTRODUCTIONIn the late 1800’s and early 1900’s

colonization took a new form in which European powers wanted to create dependent colonies. This meant indigenous people in Africa would be ruled by a minority of European colonizers.

As European powers wanted more control over Africa, tensions rose among these colonizers. This would eventually lead to world conflict by 1914.

PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

European Colonization in Africa: Why?

The impact of colonialism:EconomicPolitical Social and Cultural

The legacy of Colonialism: Is it still relevant today?

Which factors had the most impact? Historical debate.

WHY DID EUROPE COLONISE AFRICA?

Economic?• The desire for self-sufficiency and greater power led European nations to pursue

raw materials in Africa. Factories in Europe required need for more raw materials. • New industrial markets meant new consumers and greater profit for industrial

countries• Industrialization led to population growth and many people did not have homes.

African colonies offered new opportunities for displaced farmers and workers.

Political?• Nationalism- The strength and power of a nation was measured by how many

colonies they could dominate• Political power struggle among great European powers: Germany, France, Britain

Cultural/Social?• “The White Man’s Burden” (R. Kipling)-European powers felt they were the superior

race and culture; therefore, it was their mission and obligation to ‘civilize’ Africans.• Paternalism• Spread Christianity by converting Africans with help of missionaries

LENIN: ‘IMPERIALISM’Lenin argued:

Capitalist European countries controlled by rich businessmen (the Bill Gates of the era)

Wanted to control Africa to gain larger markets and to get control of raw materials

The ‘Civilising Mission’? CECIL RHODES

“I contend that we [Britain] are the first

race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit

the better it is for the human race”

ColonialismBritish Colonisation– • Indirect rule: Local powers that existed before European colonies

would play a role in government affairs• More inclusive form of administrating government overall• Countries under British Control: Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan,

Nigeria, Gold Coast, Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe), Uganda, Sierra Leone

French and German Colonisation-• Direct rule: European colonial government would control all aspects

of country’s affairs• Less tolerant because did not negotiate with indigenous rulers• Assimilation: Forced indigenous population to adapt to European way

of life (e.g. West Africans forced to learn French)• Divide and rule strategy weakened ethnic groups to avoid majority

overthrow of European government• Countries under French Control: Chad, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast,

Algeria, Senegal, Niger

What was the Economic Impact of Colonialism?

Positive:• Increased global trade and developed a capitalist economy; however, that

was to the benefit of the colonizer not the colony• When substantial development did occur it rarely benefited the whole of the

colony, more often it was for the white settlers/private individuals e.g. Cecil Rhodes in South Africa who made a huge fortune from diamond mines.

Negative:• Africa was exploited – its raw materials (e.g. Rubber, gold, diamonds) were

plundered leaving continent with little resources to survive post-colonisation• Europe did not encourage industrialisation or modernization in long term;

Africa still impoverished continent today. • The colonies were too far integrated into the economic system of their

empire. Even when colonies had become independent they were still economically dependent on the European State that had governed them.

What was the Political Impact of Colonialism?

Positive:• Parliamentary Systems of Government established• Modernized and industrialized Africa by improving agriculture,

transportation and railroads (e.g. Cotton growing in Uganda)• Better medical care meant Africans had chance to live longer

Negative: • Indirect rule allowed ethnic divisions to grow in post-colonial Africa

because of flexibility. Consequently, thugs could take over country easily• Direct rule eencouraged divisions between different ethnic and religious

groups. Aim was to keep the population divided rather than challenging the central government. Foreced assimilation created deep resentment among indigenous people against foreigners

THE ‘SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA’What? The competition over territorial claims among European powers became known as “The Scramble for Africa”.

When? Berlin Conference, 1884: Colonial powers met to divide African territory.

So what? This resolved territorial disputes and possible war. However, boundaries were drawn without taking into consideration the various ethnic and tribal differences of Africans. Many ethnic groups divided as a result, which would lead to future conflicts among African people.

Who? Africa divided among the great European powers of the day: Portugal, Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.

What was the Social Impact of Colonialism?

• Human Rights violations- The slave trade may have been abolished in Britain in 1807; however, the colonisation of Africa brought new acts of violations against humanity (e.g. King Leopold II of Belgium massacred Congolese)

• Pan-African Nationalism- Struggles of Africans under slavery and colonialism created need for African nations to unite to preserve ethnic and cultural identities

Chinua Achebe “Things Fall Apart”

Africa needed a strong nationalist

movement

Literary Responses

Literary ResponsesJoseph Conrad

“Heart of Darkness

Highlighted the brutality of

Belgian rule in the Congo

Franz Fanon“The Wretched of

the Earth”

Literary Responses

Modern case studies

1. Apartheid in South Africa, 1948-1994• Black majority rights suppressed and weakened by white minority.• Blacks economically disadvantaged because Whites controlled

farms• Racial segregation

2. Rwandan genocide, 1994• Ethnic conflict between two groups, Hutus and Tutsis• Example of how Europeans drew arbitrary boundaries without

considering ethnic make-up. The result: civil war and genocide

The Impact of Colonialism:The Debate still rages…

ConclusionEuropean colonization brought certain positive implications for the continent. Colonizers urbanized and industrialized many African countries, which improved their agricultural system, sanitation and housing. Moreover, it integrated Africa with the rest of the global market. However, the negative impacts of colonialism outweighed any positive additions.

African ethnic groups were divided and forced to assimilate to a new culture and way of life. Colonizers paid very little attention to educating Africans, which is why the AIDS epidemic is so vast in the continent today. Moreover, the indirect and direct rule approaches did not help Africans become more self-reliant. Instead, Africans still depend on foreign aid and intervention to stop hunger, disease, civil war, and ethnic conflicts. European colonizers also depleted most of Africa’s natural resources, leaving the its inhabitants with very little or nothing.

Some historians would argue that if Africa was still controlled by European powers, it would be much better off. There would be stronger governments, better education, and overall wealth. Then again, if Europeans had left the continent alone from the beginning these issues could have been avoided altogether.